When your Brother printer goes offline, it can disrupt your workflow, especially if you're relying on it for important tasks. This guide will walk you through various methods to troubleshoot and fix the issue. Follow these steps systematically to bring your printer back online.

1. Check the Basics: Power and ConnectionsThe first thing you should check when your Brother printer shows offline is the power and connection.
‍Power: Ensure that your printer is turned on. Look for any error lights or messages on the printer’s screen.
‍USB Cable (for wired printers): If you are using a USB connection, verify that the cable is firmly plugged into both the printer and your computer. Try switching the USB port on your computer or using a different cable to rule out any issues with the connection.
‍Wi-Fi Connection (for wireless printers): For wireless models, ensure that the printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer. You can usually check the connection from the printer’s control panel. If the connection is weak or unstable, consider moving the printer closer to the router.
‍Quick Fixes:Restart both your printer and computer. A simple reboot can often resolve communication issues.If the printer is connected wirelessly, try reconnecting it to your network via the printer’s Wi-Fi setup.
2. Check Printer Status in Windows SettingsSometimes, your Brother printer is set to offline mode or paused in the Windows printer settings. Follow these steps to check and correct this:
‍Open Printer Settings:Press Windows + R, type control printers, and press Enter.This will open the "Devices and Printers" window.
‍Check the Printer Status:Right-click on your Brother printer and select "See what’s printing."In the menu that opens, uncheck “Use Printer Offline” and ensure that “Pause Printing” is also unchecked.
‍Set the Printer as Default (if necessary):In the same “Devices and Printers” window, right-click on your Brother printer and select “Set as default printer.”These steps will ensure that your printer isn’t manually set to offline mode.
3. Check for Stuck Print JobsA stuck or failed print job can sometimes cause your Brother printer to go offline. Clearing the print queue can fix this problem.
‍Open Print Queue:Right-click on your Brother printer from the “Devices and Printers” window and select “See what’s printing.
”Cancel Print Jobs:If there are any jobs listed in the queue, right-click on them and select “Cancel.”Clear all jobs, even if they are marked as completed.
‍Restart Print Spooler (if necessary):Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.Scroll down to “Print Spooler,” right-click on it, and select “Restart.”This will refresh the printing services on your computer, helping to resolve any lingering communication issues.
4. Check Network Settings (For Wireless Printers)If you’re using a Brother printer over Wi-Fi, incorrect network settings can cause it to appear offline. To fix this, you need to verify your printer’s IP address and network connection.
‍Check Printer’s IP Address:Print a network configuration page from your Brother printer. This option is usually available through the “Reports” or “Settings” menu on the printer’s control panel.
‍Ping the Printer:Open Command Prompt on your computer and type ping <Printer IP Address> (replace <Printer IP Address> with the actual IP from the network configuration page).If the command returns successful results, the computer can communicate with the printer. If not, there may be a network issue.
‍Assign a Static IP Address (Optional):To avoid future connectivity issues, you can assign a static IP address to your Brother printer through your router’s settings. Check your router’s manual for instructions on how to assign a static IP.
5. Update or Reinstall Printer DriversOutdated or corrupted printer drivers can cause your Brother printer to go offline. Updating or reinstalling the drivers can resolve this.
‍Check for Driver Updates:Visit the and download the latest drivers for your specific printer model.
‍Reinstall the Printer:Go to "Devices and Printers," right-click on your Brother printer, and select "Remove device."After removing the printer, restart your computer.Reinstall the printer by clicking on "Add a printer" in the "Devices and Printers" window and following the on-screen instructions.
‍Install Brother iPrint&Scan:Brother offers a software tool called iPrint&Scan, which helps to diagnose and fix common printing problems. You can download it from the Brother website.
6. Disable SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)Brother printers sometimes use SNMP for network management, which can lead to the printer being marked as offline. Disabling SNMP might fix this issue.
‍Open Printer Properties:In "Devices and Printers," right-click your Brother printer and choose "Printer properties.
"Disable SNMP:Go to the “Ports” tab, select the port your printer is using, and click “Configure Port.”Uncheck the “SNMP Status Enabled” box and click “OK.
”7. Check Firewall and Antivirus SettingsSometimes, your firewall or antivirus software can block the communication between your computer and printer, causing it to go offline. To fix this:
‍Temporarily Disable Firewall:Open the control panel of your antivirus or firewall software and disable it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.
‍Add Printer to Allowed Devices:If disabling the firewall resolves the issue, you can add the printer’s IP address or related software (like Brother utilities) to the list of allowed devices or apps in your firewall settings.
‍Re-enable the Firewall:Once you’ve made the necessary adjustments, re-enable your firewall or antivirus to ensure your system remains protected.
8. Reset Printer SettingsAs a last resort, you can try resetting your Brother printer to its factory settings. This will clear any saved network configurations or settings that could be causing the issue.
‍Access Reset Option:On the printer’s control panel, navigate to “Settings” or “All Settings,” then go to “Network” and select “Reset Network” or “Factory Reset” (depending on your model).
‍Reconfigure the Printer:After resetting, you will need to reconnect the printer to your network and reinstall it on your computer.
Conclusion
A Brother printer going offline can stem from simple connectivity issues to more complex driver or network problems. By following the steps outlined in this guide—from checking basic connections and printer status to more advanced troubleshooting like disabling SNMP or updating drivers—you should be able to resolve the issue and get your printer back online. If none of these steps work, contacting Brother support for further assistance might be necessary.4o